Chris Van Allsburg
Lesson plans for Jumanji, Polar Express, and others
|About the Author|
|Bad Day at Riverbend|
|Ben's Dream|
|The Garden of Abdul Gasazi|
|Jumanji|
|Just a Dream|
|The Mysteries of Harris Burdick|
|The Polar Express|
|The Stranger|
|The Sweetest Fig|
|Two Bad Ants|
|The Widow's Broom|
|The Wreck of the Zephyr|
|The Wretched Stone|
|The Z was Zapped|
|Zathura|
Chris Van Allsburg
The author's official site.
A video interview with Chris Van Allsburg
Biography, bibliography, video clips, and transcript.
Chris Van Allsburg: Author Study Unit
This extensive unit uses a reading/writing workshop model.
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Bad Day at Riverbend
Summary, discussion questions, reading and writing lessons, more. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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Leapin' Landmarks: Locating 10 Man-made Landmarks Around the World
Links to a lesson integrating literacy and geography, including all the handouts. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access. This is a sample lesson at a commercial site.
A Teacher's Guide to Ben's Dream
Summary, discussion questions, ideas for reading and writing lessons. This 3-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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The Garden of Abdul Gasazi Discussion Guide
Summary, discussion questions, a lesson on describing characters using dialogue, a reading lesson on finding details to support opinions, and suggestions for writing. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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Jumanji
Summary, discussion points, activities.
A Teacher's Guide to Jumanji
Summary, teaching ideas (including a lesson on verbs and suggestions for differentiation), and 3 suggestions for postreading projects. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to Just a Dream
Summary, discussion questions, reading and writing lessons, and suggestions for postreading projects. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
Summary, discussion questions, and suggestions for writing lessons. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
Writing Activity: Harris Burdick Stories
After reading The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, students create their own stories about the pictures. By navigating the Internet, students learn more about the writing process to help them create their stories.
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The Polar Express
Scroll down on this page to find a variety of activities to support the book, including handouts, vocabulary, song lyrics, and other literacy and cross-curricular activities.
The Polar Express
Ideas for using the book in kindergarten.
The Polar Express: Math Activities
10 story problems related to the book.
The Polar Express: Story Sequencing Strips
Print this page and cut into strips for practice with story sequencing. Requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.
Polar Expressions
In this lesson elementary students develop expository writing skills.
Story Map with The Polar Express
This suggestion combines literacy with a craft activity.
Take The Polar Express to Learning
Five activities: a reading log, 2 puzzles, a craft, and a recipe. Requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.
A Teacher's Guide to The Polar Express
Summary, teaching ideas (including discussion questions and a lesson on simile and metaphor), ideas for differentiation, and more. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Stranger
Summary, discussion questions, reading lesson, writing lesson, ideas for differentiation, and suggestions for a post-reading project. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Sweetest Fig
Summary, discussion questions, reading lesson, writing lesson, and suggestions for a post-reading project. This 3-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to Two Bad Ants
Summary, discussion questions, a writing lesson on description, a reading lesson on predicting, and suggestions for postreading activities. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Widow's Broom
Summary, discussion questions, a writing lesson, a reading lesson, and ideas for post-reading activities. This 3-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Wreck of the Zephyr
Summary, discussion questions, a writing lesson, a reading lesson, suggestions for differentiation, and ideas for post-reading activities. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
The Wreck of the Zephyr
An extensive list of post-reading activities.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Wretched Stone
Plot summary, discussion questions, a writing lesson, a reading lesson, ideas for differentiation, and suggestions for postreading projects. This 4-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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A Teacher's Guide to The Z was Zapped
Summary, discussion questions, a writing lesson, a reading lesson, a suggestion for differentiation, and ideas for postreading activities. This 3-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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Zathura
Plot summary, discussion questions, ideas for integrating science, ideas for differentiation, and writing topics. This 7-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
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